State of Play (Kevin Macdonald, 2009)

According to fans the original State of Play (2003, Dir: David Yates) was pretty much the best thing on tv ever. I am rubbish at cottoning on to good stuff on tv, so I didn't watch it. I wanted to see it before the film version came out this year (2009, Dir: Kevin Macdonald). Its kind of that feeling you get with a literary adaptation. I would much rather read the book first than see the film. But I didn't manage that either.

But when the lights went down that was the last thing I was thinking about, because boy does this film know how to make a first impression. Probably within about 20 seconds my heart was hammering, I was on the edge of my seat and I was entirely drawn in. I don't think I can remember quite such a visceral start to a film. And before the opening credits I was hooked.


Sadly that positive feeling didn't last entirely through the film, but its a bit of a belter and sweeps you along quite pleasingly for about three quarters of the film until it all turns a bit stodgy, makes one final twist too many and ends with a decidedly underwhelming reveal.

Is it just me or is Russell Crowe basically playing the same character nowadays? The slobbiness he brings to Cal McAffrey really reminded me of the slobbiness he brought to Richie Roberts in American Gangster. Fortunately I like his schtick.

Weirdly one of the things I liked best about this film was the architecture and building interiors. Washington DC looks really great on film. A bit of a mish mash of architectural styles. My favourite being the interior and exterior of the newspaper office. It is seriously retro! One retro step too far was his computer. I can't believe that anyone actually has those computers that don't have Windows on them, just a black screen and a bit square curser.

I generally quite like Rachel McAdams and while she was ok the most notable thing about her performance was probably how much she struts about. I wasn't wild about her performance. The part itself was not particularly meaty. She did just feel to be prettying up the place and not much more.

Dame Helen of course can do no wrong. A couple of good stinging one liners and I was happy.

Ben Affleck seems to have recovered from the Bennifer debacle, and with Gone Baby Gone to have resurrected his career somewhat. He handled it all pretty well, and I didn't hate him or start thinking about him stroking J-Lo's arse in the Jenny From the Block video, so he must have been pretty good.

I adore Robin Wright Penn, it was love ever since The Princess Bride, and I don't think she is in anywhere near enough films. So I really liked seeing her in this. She has a quiet dignity and repose which I think was just right for the role of the wronged wife.

I probably shouldn't delve too deeply into my psyche to find out what this means but I love a sleazy character on screen. I also love Jason Bateman, from the bottom of my heart. I wasn't sure he would be able to carry it off, but he sleazed all over that film in the grossest way possible, then wept quite a bit, then got good and beat up. Job done!

As to the film itself I think it is let down by the plot, I have to say that I don't have overwhelming levels of patience with conspiracy theory films, although the mercenary angle was very interesting. But the final twist just revealed something that, while a surprise, was far less interesting than what most of the audience was probably guessing at. And a bit of hackneyed "friendship should be more important than your quest for the truth. - Nothing is more important than the truth!" message felt a bit laboured. So all in all entertaining but not earth shattering. I think I might go and rent the original...